Format 7" single | Genre Progressive pop | |
B-side "Poor Boy (The Greenwood)" (US)
"Poor Boy (The Greenwood)" and "King of the Universe" (Double B-side UK only) Released 21 May 1977 (UK)
May 1977 (US) Recorded 1976 at Musicland Studios, Munich Length 4:39 (Album/UK single version)
3:56 (US single edit) | ||
"Telephone Line" is a song by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).
Contents
Release
The song is track two on their 1976 album, A New World Record, and was the final single to be released from the album until September 2006, when "Surrender" was released from the expanded reissue of the album. It became their biggest single success in the US and was their first UK gold award for a single. With ELO's continuing success in America it seemed obvious to Jeff Lynne to use an American ring tone during the song. Writer/guitarist, Lynne explained:
The song charted in the Top Ten in both the UK and the US, peaking at number 8 in the UK and number 7 in the US. The tune was on the Hot 100 for 23 weeks, nearly a full month longer on that chart than any other ELO tune. Billboard ranked it as the No. 15 song of 1977. In 1977, the song would reach number 1 in New Zealand and Canada. "Telephone Line" and Meri Wilson's "Telephone Man" were back-to-back on Hot 100's top 40 for two non-consecutive weeks in the summer of 1977.
As was the norm, many ELO singles were issued in different colours, but the US version of this single was the only green single ELO issued. It became the band's first single to achieve Gold sales figures.
Covers and other uses
"Telephone Line" is the theme song of the 1977 film Joyride starring Desi Arnaz, Jr., Robert Carradine, Melanie Griffith, and Anne Lockhart, directed by Joseph Ruben. The song is also featured in the movie Billy Madison when Billy (Adam Sandler) phones a former high school classmate, played by Steve Buscemi, to apologize for picking on him.
It was also used on the HBO series Big Love in the season 2 episode "Vision Thing".
It was also played in a car during the "Malcolm Holds His Tongue" episode of Malcolm in the Middle.
The song has been covered by Irish band Aslan and also by the French well-known singer Claude François (Sacrée chanson).
Duo Jack and White, featuring American Idol finalist Brooke White recorded a cover of "Telephone Line" on their covers EP Undercover, digitally released in 2012. The version also featured guest vocals from Fitz of the band Fitz & The Tantrums.
Jeff Lynne version
Jeff Lynne re-recorded the song in his own home studio. It was released in a compilation album with other re-recorded ELO songs, under the ELO name.